March 8th Lesson Supplement: Called To Accountability (Amos 5)

Do justice and love kindness...do justice and love kindness...do justice and love kindness!

This, my friends, expresses God’s heart – that we do justice and be kind to each other (Mic.6:8). Imagine a home, a school, a church, a government, a community, a nation where we all lived out that divine command – love, show mercy, be kind. Do you know anyone that professes to be Christian, very religious, yet when dealing with people tend to be mean, unkind, unfair and judgmental? Heavy on the ritual but falling short on practical Christianity. Such were the challenges of the people of 8^th century Israel and surrounding communities, the context for this week’s lesson.

                           AMOS 5: 18 – 24  “Called to Accountability”

Aim: Comprehend advocating for the oppressed, Desire fairness and Choosing to become activists for the cause of justice and righteousness

Memory verse:       “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (5:24).

Historical Background

Times were good. It was a period of affluence and prosperity (790 – 753 BC). Assyria was not yet a superpower. Israel had control over the trade routes, much wealth coming into her cities. Commerce was booming (8:5), expensive homes were being built (3:15; 5:11), there was an upper class (4:1-3). There was a sense of security, a period in which the people were hedonistic and ungodly. However, the poor were taken advantage of – legally and economically exploited, sold into slavery for debts (2:6) morality was at an all-time low (2:7).

By the way… Religion was on the rise. They believed God was pleased with them. Why else was the economy booming? Shrines being built (our day churches popping up and the economy booming), festivals, sacrifices (4:5, 5:5; 5:21-3; 5:14, 18-20; 6:1-3).

 Keep in mind years earlier that after the passing of King Solomon and the disastrous rule of King Rehoboam, the fate of the nation of Israel rested upon the shoulder of king Jeroboam I. Remember that the nation of Israel was split into two – 10 tribes followed Jeroboam (Israel) and 2 tribes remained loyal to Rehoboam (Judah) He set up a rival place of worship at Bethel (in the south of Israel).  The capital of Judah was Jerusalem, and the new capital of Israel became Shechem.

 Notice how the heart of a leader can turn people away from God. He was their choice (1 Kings 12:3). But he did not have God’s heart. Not because its practical does it mean it’s of God:

 ²⁶ Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. ²⁷ If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” ²⁸ So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” ²⁹ He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. ³⁰ Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. ³¹ And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi. ³² Jeroboam instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast which is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; thus he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made. And he stationed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. ³³ Then he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised in his own heart; and he instituted a feast for the sons of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense (1 Kings 12:26-33).

Jeroboam’s leading of the people set in motion a regrettable, sinful path downward, leading to the message of judgment to be delivered by Amos.

Enter AMOS

Amos was a contemporary of King Uzziah (Judah), king Jeroboam II (Israel), Hosea, and Jonah. Amos’ delivery to the people was just before the time of Isaiah (when king Uzziah died…) and Micah. Interestingly, Micah would deliver a similar message (Mic. 6-7). Amos was a very successful farmer and shepherd – a sheepherder and an overseer of sycamore fruit farming (Amos 7:14). He lived in Tekoa, about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. His message was delivered to the northern tribes approximately 762 BC right before the Lord sent an earthquake in the land (760 BC; cf. Zech.14:5). The message Amos would deliver to the people was God’s decry for the sins of the surrounding nations and Israel who had become like their neighbors.

Are we becoming like the godless nations around us? Will we incur the wrath of God as well?

The picture that God paints in his message is that of a roaring lion on the attack – roaring, terrifying and paralyzing its helpless victims, tearing them apart (Amos 3:4,8; 1:6-8). God had enough! Notice God’s use of the words “for three and for four”(1:6,9,11,13; 2:1,4,6) – fullness; repeated behavior; sinning again and again; a persistent refusal to listen to God; you are ripe for judgment; your cup of iniquity is full.

Our text: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18)

The Israelites wished for the day when God would meet out judgment upon their oppressors and enemies, a day when he would fight on their behalf. A day when vengeance would be executed and a day when they would be exalted (Isa.34:1-3, 24:21-3; Zech. 14:1-3). But wait a minute!!! The Israelites themselves were living in compromise! They were guilty of the same things of which they accused their neighbors. “Righteousness exalted a nation and sin is a reproach to any nation (Prov.14:34).

                      It was time to call the people into accountability

The charges against the nations (including Israel and Judah)

It’s important to note the purpose of Amos’ call to accountability. He attends a great gathering of the people and pronounces God’s judgment given to him in a vision (1:1)

He pronounces judgment upon the seven surrounding nations, then upon Israel. These were irrevocable indictments. No turning back God's hand of judgment:

Damascus – Guilty of torture/cruelty (1:3-5); Philistia – Guilty of capturing and selling into slavery (1:6-8)

Tyre – Guilty of a broken treaty (1:9-10); Edom – Guilty of vengeful spirit (1:11-12)

Ammon – Guilty of violence (1:13-15); Moab – Guilty of gross injustice (2:1-3)

Judah (Israel’s brother) – guilty of despising God’s law (2:4-5)

Israel – Guilty of taking advantage of God’s grace, breaking God’s covenant, immorality, injustice, iniquities, and intimidation of the prophets (2:6-12).

 It is really difficult when we are confronted with the truth…Time for accountability.

Now, our full text: Amos 5:18-24.  The Apostolic Light states, “for several months he delivered a message of judgment to Israel, warning her leaders that failure to repent of the injustices they committed against the poor and the vulnerable would lead to their destruction”[1] (p.7).

They did not realize that the horrors the other nations were to face would also fall upon them for their actions. The day of the Lord they expected was not to be one of happiness. It would be like that of a man running from a lion on the attack (5:19). He runs home, rests on the wall thinking he is safe, only to be bitten by a snake (5:19).

God’s anger was burning! He despised all the ritual – the feasts, the in-gatherings. He could not stand all the hypocrisy anymore. He’d had enough! (5:21-22). God could not stand the offerings of their assemblies. Imagine coming to Church and God refusing to hear an accept all that activity. Such a waste! “God loathed every part of their religious worship.”[2] Take away the burdensome noise of your praise songs! I will not listen to your music. Picture God stopping his ears (5:23).

                                   Practical Applications Here
Teachers, please utilize your resources - Discuss the meaning, Make it Happen, Lesson in Our Society.
                         So, What Does God Require?

Not rituals, and certainly not performances. Rather, a commitment to justice and righteousness, concern for the plight of the poor, the needy and the disenfranchised. He seeks a passionate commitment to love and to do kindness that rolls on and on like a river and a never-failing stream (5:24).

Don’t be like the Israelites who became like the surrounding nations – caught up in the pursuit of love for money, comfort, power, and idols; while showing no concern for the poor and vulnerable. What do you observe happening all around you? Is there more or less appetite for God? 

Make applications in class. Implications for church leaders? What does this mean for our witness in our homes, schools, churches, marketplaces and our nation?

                            Do justice, Love kindness. Called to Accountability

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[1] Apostolic Light, Pentecostal Publishing House,(2020), 7.

[2] Walvoord & Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (1989), 1442.

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Written by Kevin A. Hall.